Pad for medical purposes



(No Model.)

W.. W. RAY.

PAD FOR MEDICAL PURPOSES.

No. 313,238. Patented Mar. 3, 1885.

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ATENT WILLIAM WV. BAY, OF SPRINGFIELD, KENTUCKY.

PAD FOR MEDICAL PURPOSES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 313,238, dated March 3, 1885.

. Application filed June 5, 1883. (No model.)

T 0 all whom it may concern.-

Beitknown that I, WILLIAM W. RAY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Spring field, in the county of \Vashington and State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pads; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and eXact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the'accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form apart of this specification.

My invention has relation to improvements in medical pads, .and has for its object to provide means especially for the efficient applica tion of volatile fluids having rubifacient and anodyne properties, though it may be used for other analogous purposes-for instance, the application of counter-irritant powders.

My invention consists in constructing the pad with absorbent face-piece, a non-absorbent back, and a non'absorbent strip extended around the edge of the absorbent strip, in substantially the manner hereinafter described and specified.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front view of my improved pad. Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view on line mm, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a back view of the pad; and Fig. 4 shows a modification in the manner of constructing the pad.

The absorbent face-piece A is made of flannel or other suitable material adapted to absorb the fluid to be used. The back piece, B, is made, preferably, of thin rubber; but it will be understood that celluloid, oiled silk, and other pliable materials could be used to attain the desired object, which is to provide an pervious non-absorbent back. This back piece extends over the edges of the piece A, as shown, providing the strips B, extending entirely around the face of the absorbent piece A, for the purpose hereinafter described.

I prefer to construct my back piece, B, in

the manner shown in Figs. 1 and 2that is, of an elongated ring or tube having an opening, B formed through one side and flattened longitudinally, the said opening being made of a width less than the Width of the tube when flattened, so as to leave the portions B on opous strips surrounding the face of the absorbentstrip or carrier, and the latter can be inserted under these strips and removably held, as will be readily understood.

I prefer to constructmy pad as before described, as thereby the absorbent piece may be readily removed to facilitate the application of the fluid thereto, or to exchange same, as will bereadily understood. The main object of my invention, however, is to provide a pad with an absorbent face, an impervious or surrounding the porous face, whereby evaporation from the edge of the pad is prevented. This, it would be understood, could be secured by the construction shown in Fig. 4, where the impervious back is extended over the edge of the face-strip, and separate nonabsorbent pieces are secured at the ends of the absorbent face-piece. Strips 0 Care secured to the opposite ends of thepad, so that it may be secured in position.

The pad is to be used, as before stated, in connection with a Volatile fluid having rubifacient and anodyne properties, which fluid is to be absorbed into the piece A, and the pad applied over the seat of pain. The overlying portion or strip B will prevent the loss offluid by evaporation, and will hold the fluid a'ndits vapors in contact with the surface over the seat of pain.

The fluids desired to be used are to be varied to suit the different characters of the troubles to be remedied.

Among those remedies which I have found useful are chloroform, spirits of camphor, and combinations of these-with other volatile fluids having rubifacient and anodyne properties.

By the use of my pad I get not only the benefit derived from a mustard plaster or liniinent applied in the ordinary way, but the vapor being held in contact with the surface by the imperviousback and strips B will be absorbed and its anodyne property obtained.

I am aware that it is not new to make pads or analogous medical aids with an absorbent face and an impervious back; also, that the absorbent portions have been removably secured to the impervious ones, as in the case of catamenial sacks; and I do not broadly claim such as my invention.

posite sides thereof, to provide the impervinon-absorbent back, and a non-absorbent strip- Having thus described my invention, what I I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is 4 1. A medical pad adapted for use as specified, having anon-absorbent back, an absorb= cut face, and a non-absorbent strip surrounding the absorbent face, whereby evaporation from the edge of thepad is prevented, the said pad being provided with means, substantially as described, whereby it may be secured to the wearer, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

i 2. The medical pad composed of the flattened elongated flexible tube made of nonabsorbent material and provided with the 

